The Anaheim Ducks were a powerful and dominant team in the 2015 season, a feat that will be very difficult to repeat.The top team in the Western Conference did a little bit of re-tooling to try and help their cause in the off-season, but it has been some questionable work done, picking up some interesting personalities and the real questions become, how will they mesh with the existing personalities?
For a regular season team, these guys appear like they will be tough to beat on a nightly basis, especially with their superstar duo still intact, a number one goaltender that established himself well last season and a bunch of guys, who are not afraid to mix it up along the wall and in the open ice.
In the grand scheme of things, you have to win in the regular season to make it into the playoffs and once you get to the playoffs, that's when the situation resets and the combination of skill and personality really shows off.
The Ducks will win again, they'll make the playoffs and as poolies, we'll reap the benefits, if we're fortunate to have them on our side for the 82-game stretch. They'll be a good team to pick from, so be sure to get your fill.
| Player | Pos | 15/16 Proj | Rookie |
| Frederik Andersen | G | 80 | |
| Ryan Getzlaf | F | 75 | |
| Corey Perry | F | 75 | |
| Ryan Kesler | F | 45 | |
| Jakob Silfverberg | F | 45 | |
| Chris Stewart | F | 45 | |
| Cam Fowler | D | 40 | |
| Sami Vatanen | D | 40 | |
| Carl Hagelin | F | 35 | |
| Hampus Lindholm | D | 35 | |
| Simon Despres | D | 30 | |
| Pat Maroon | F | 30 | |
| Rickard Rakell | F | 30 | |
| Kevin Bieksa | D | 25 | |
| Andrew Cogliano | F | 25 | |
| Shawn Horcoff | F | 25 | |
| Jiri Sekac | F | 25 | |
| Anton Khudobin | G | 15 | |
| Nicholas Ritchie | F | 15 | Y |
| Shea Theodore | D | 15 | Y |
| Clayton Stoner | D | 10 | |
| Nate Thompson | F | 10 | |
| John Gibson | G | 5 | |
| Korbinian Holzer | D | 5 | |
| Tim Jackman | F | 5 | |
| Josh Manson | D | 5 | |
| Chris Wagner | F | 5 | Y |
Table last updated on August 15th
Most Intriguing or Breakout Player
The Ducks have some young talent on the verge of a breakout season in Jakob Silfverberg, who earned some high praise from his management and coaching staff, when he signed his brand new deal through restricted free agency.Silfverberg is a solid two-way player, who really reflects the values of the Anaheim organization and the way that they play. He's a very responsible forward and has a really good touch around the net, adding a reasonable amount of offense to his side.
Being a two-way player, however, does tend to restrict the amount of offense a player can give to his team. His natural talent will get him some points, so you can at least bank on that.
First Round Picks
Three potential opening round picks highlight the Anaheim Ducks projections this year, including one of the biggest breakout stars from the 2015 season, Frederik Andersen in net, followed by the regular superstars, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Getzlaf and Perry do seem to be absolute locks for being taken in the first round, while Andersen can be considered a bit of a gamble, since the team did enjoy going with John Gibson, when he was healthy last year. Andersen, to me, did enough last season to earn his spot in the projections going forward.
Other Pool Worthy Forwards
Ryan Kesler, an acquisition last Summer, and Chris Stewart, an acquisition this Summer, will be a couple of focus points for the Ducks, as they'll grind out some points this season. Stewart may have found the perfect fit this year, as he'll probably cycle through the top six, trying to find that chemistry for a good year. Another new pick-up, Carl Hagelin, should be a good depth pick up, as his two-way game is also quite impressive.
Other Pool Worthy Defense
The Ducks defense is young and very skilled, so when they went out and acquired Kevin Bieksa from the Canucks, they got a grinding veteran, who should be able to help guide the kids through a big year. Look for Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm and Simon Despres to have good years and the Ducks blueline could very well be a haven for hockey pool points.
Goaltending Situation
If John Gibson isn't to be the number one, then the Anaheim Ducks are making the right decision, picking up a better back-up option in Anton Khudobin, who has been used to being the number two guy in his career. Of course, if anything was to happen to their number one, I would assume that the call would be made for Gibson to step in and take the reins, but you don't make that sort of gamble before the puck drops on a new season.
Possible Entries Into the Rookie Race
The Ducks likely are not counting on any new entries to make an impact this season, but some players appear to be close. Forward Nick Ritchie and defenseman Shea Theodore have been highlighted as guys who may be able to step into the lineup. The depth of this team will likely hinder their scoring numbers, but they will be interesting to watch, if they make it.
Team To Pick From Late?
If the Ducks are going to be a winning team, more often than not, than yes. I would say that if you're struggling for names late on in the draft, the Ducks will be a great source of run off points. Their scoring numbers should be impressive and I would think that everyone will contribute on this roster.
Unsigned Players and Salary Cap
The only players left on their list are unrestricted, including forward Tomas Fleischmann, who has yet to find a new home.
The Ducks management has done an amazing job forming this lineup and doing so with all kinds of cap flexibility.The projected roster today, shows the Ducks with 22 players, a side that could see the puck drop right away, and they still have $9.6 million in cap space. Some smaller contracts in their crease is a big help to that cap savings number, while their defense is also filled with some very young contracts.Eventually, if this team was to remain intact, it would really begin to cost big dollars.
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